Parable of the Evil Rich Man

5. There  was once a rich man who dressed in purple and linen, and who treated himself magnificently  every day. There was also a poor man named Lazarus, who lay at his gate completely  covered with sores, and who hoped to mitigate his hunger with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.

However, no one gave him any and the dogs came  to lick his sores. It so happened that the poor man died and was taken by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and had hell as his grave. While  he was in torment, he lifted his eyes on high and saw Abraham  far off with Lazarus in his bosom; and he cried out, “Father Abraham,  have mercy on me and send me Lazarus  so that he might  wet the tip of his finger in water to bring a little refreshment to my tongue, for I am suffering awful torment in these flames.”

But Abraham answered him, “My son, remember that you already received your riches during your lifetime and that Lazarus had nothing but ills; that is why he is now being consoled, whereas you are in torment.

“Moreover, there will forever be a large abyss between  you and us, such that those who would  like to go from here to there cannot, just as one cannot come here from where you are.”

The rich man said to him, “Then I beg you, Father Abraham,  to send him to my father’s house, where I have five brothers, in order to attest to them about these things for fear that they too might come to this place of torment.” Abraham replied to him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.” “No, Father Abraham, said the rich man, “but if someone from the dead were to go to them,  they would repent.” Abraham  responded to him, “If they do not listen to Moses or the prophets, they will not believe anyone else, even if someone from the dead were to come back to life.” (Lk. 16:19-31)